Chuck Cooper News

Broadway veterans Nancy Opel, Chuck Cooper and Rita Gardner also appear in Chasing Taste, along with the Classical Theatre of Harlem's Producing Director Ty Jones.

As fans of TNT's Top 10 drama Major Crimes prepare for the start of an all-new season, they will get the chance to enjoy a 19-hour marathon of the entire previous season. The marathon will bgan running June 8, at 2 a.m. (ET/PT) and will continue right up until the season three premiere tonight, June 9, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

Lincoln Center Theater's Tony Award-nominated production of ACT ONE, written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart, will be filmed for Live from Lincoln Center for an anticipated broadcast on PBS at a future date, it has just been announced. ACT ONE which is up for 5 Tony Awards this Sunday, including Best Play, runs through June 15 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

As fans of TNT's Top 10 drama Major Crimes prepare for the start of an all-new season, they will get the chance to enjoy a 19-hour marathon of the entire previous season.

Just last night, Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) hosted the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). Big winners for the night included Audra McDonald, Bryan Cranston, Jessie Mueller, and Neil Patrick Harris and Jefferson Mays- who tied for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Click here for a full list of winners. Also check out more photos of arrivals and photos of the winners.

Look, we get it, whether due to budget or geography, you didn't see every show of the Broadway season, but that doesn't mean you can't be fully up-to-date for this Sunday's Tony Awards. To help get you prepared for the theatre's biggest night, BroadwayWorld has put together the ultimate Tonys Crash Course. We've outlined all of the shows nominated in the Best Play and Best Revival of a Play categories, and provided you 'study materials' as only BWW can, by mining our one-of-a-kind archives.

Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) will host the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards tonight, June 1, 2014 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). BroadwayWorld will be updating you with winners throughout the night. Check back later for the full list!

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, was presented yesterday, May 21st in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and 8th Avenue and 44th and 45th Streets. To add to the festivities leading up to the Tony Awards, the free outdoor concert in the heart of the Theatre District celebrated Broadway with star appearances and exciting performances from over 20 new shows and long-running favorites, accompanied by a live 12-piece orchestra. BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert event and you can check out photos from the festivities below!

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, welcomes Broadway stars Billy Porter, Victoria Clark, Terrence Mann, Andrea Martin and Shuler Hensley as gala award presenters for the 64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards ceremony tonight, May 22nd (4PM) at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant. In addition to being acclaimed stage performers, the stars are also former recipients of the esteemed Outer Critics Circle Award. The national organization will post award winners in 24 Broadway/Off-Broadway categories.

TNT's hit drama Major Crimes will welcome back several recurring guest stars when the show returns for its third season this summer, including Screen Actors Guild Award(R) nominee Jon Tenney

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Our very own Tony Award Viewing Party (you're invited), new takes on 'Hair' and 'Myths And Hymns,' tryouts of 'Amazing Grace' and 'On Your Feet!,' that reading of 'Bedknobs And Broomsticks,' Chicago originals 'Mister Kelly' and 'Caged Dames,' more film news, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and more!

Fresh from a 'Best Comedy' win at the 2013 Burbank International Film Festival, indie film Chasing Taste has sold out of tickets for its world premiere at VISIONFEST tonight, May 16th at 7:00p.m. at Tribeca Cinemas in New York City. To meet the demand of audience members, VISIONFEST is opening up more seats in a second screening room for a simulcast. Chasing Taste tells the story of a down-and-out novelist who is transformed overnight into NYC's next big food critic. On the cusp of fame and fortune, the writer turned food critic suddenly loses his sense of taste and smell in a freak accident, forcing him to rely on a team of super 'smellers' and tasters to help him fake his reviews. The screenplay is written by Lori Fischer and produced by Ashley Wren Collins, Maitely Weismann and Sean Gannet. The picture also marks the feature film directorial debut of Sean Gannet.

Nominations for the 2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced last month at 54 Below. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the nominees as they arrive at the 2014 Drama Desk Nominees Reception!

Nominations for the 2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced last month at 54 Below, and earlier this week, the honorees appeared at the 2014 Drama Desk Nominees Reception. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a collection of candids of the stars at the big event!

Fresh from a "Best Comedy" win at the 2013 Burbank International Film Festival, indie film Chasing Taste has sold out of tickets for its world premiere at VISIONFEST on Friday, May 16th at 7:00p.m. at Tribeca Cinemas in New York City. To meet the demand of audience members, VISIONFEST is opening up more seats in a second screening room for a simulcast. Chasing Taste tells the story of a down-and-out novelist who is transformed overnight into NYC's next big food critic. On the cusp of fame and fortune, the writer turned food critic suddenly loses his sense of taste and smell in a freak accident, forcing him to rely on a team of super "smellers" and tasters to help him fake his reviews. The screenplay is written by Lori Fischer and produced by Ashley Wren Collins, Maitely Weismann and Sean Gannet. The picture also marks the feature film directorial debut of Sean Gannet.

In honor of playwright Moss Hart, Lincoln Center Theater offers a "once in a lifetime" playwriting contest in conjunction with its Tony nominated play, Act One. ACT ONE, a play written and directed by James Lapine, from the autobiography by Moss Hart, is currently playing at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65th Street).

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: HERE LIES LOVE, THE FABULOUS MISS MARIE and TOO MUCH SUN begin today off-Broadway!

Broadway In Chicago has announced additional principal casting for the world premiere of AMAZING GRACE, the new musical with music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron, directed by Gabriel Barre (Andrew Lippas' The Wild Party) and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies).

The winners of the following categories will be announced on Monday, May 12th and the annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 22nd (4PM) at Sardi's Restaurant.

Eligibility and award category designations for the productions under consideration this season were determined by the Drama Desk board of directors with recommendations from the nominating committee. Because of the abundance of great work throughout the season, the Board also authorized the increase in the number of nominees allowed in select categories.